Ready. Set. Go. Applying to Princeton

Transcription

1 Ready. Set. Go. Applying to Princeton

2 Ready This guide is designed to help you understand how to apply to Princeton, including the courses you might take to prepare for undergraduate study, the tests and materials you should submit to support your application, the timeline for applying and the financial aid process. ABOUT PRINCETON Princeton is a major research university with the heart and soul of a liberal arts college. Chartered in 1746, it is the fourth-oldest college in the nation. The 500-acre campus, known for its natural and architectural beauty, is set conveniently about midway between New York City and Philadelphia and is accessible by rail and car to both locations. Our undergraduate population is about 5,200, including a freshman class of about 1,300 students. Every year we accept a diverse mix of high-achieving, intellectually gifted students from around the country and the world. ACADEMIC PREPARATION Princeton has no fixed unit or course prerequisite requirements. We do encourage you, however, to consult with your school advisers, and we recommend that you take the most rigorous courses possible in your high school, including honors, higher-level and Advanced Placement courses. At the same time, we recognize that not all high schools offer the same opportunities. We will give full consideration to any applicant who has been unable to pursue the recommended studies if the record otherwise shows clear promise. RECOMMENDED COURSES Four years of English (including continued practice in writing) Four years of mathematics Four years of one foreign language At least two years of laboratory science At least two years of history (including history of a country or area outside the United States) Some study of the visual arts, music or theater In addition, for students intending to pursue a bachelor of science in engineering (B.S.E.) degree or physical science concentration: Mathematics courses should include calculus Sciences should include a year of math-based physics or higher-level physics and a year of chemistry PLANNING YOUR STANDARDIZED TESTS Applicants should carefully review the specific requirements and deadlines included with the application materials. Below is a table summarizing the tests required for admission. All scores should be sent directly to Princeton through the testing agency. Princeton s College Board number is 2672; the ACT number is INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS If you are an international student and the SAT tests are not offered in your country, we will consider your application without them. However, we will have less information to evaluate in your application. In countries where the ACT is available instead of the SAT, we would encourage you to take the ACT. The Teacher Evaluation form and Secondary School Report can be completed in another language if the adviser or school official is not comfortable with English, but the forms must be translated to English before they are submitted to the admission office. REQUIRED STANDARDIZED TESTS Two SAT Subject Tests ( A.B. candidates planning to meet the foreign language requirement with a language begun in high school are encouraged to take a subject test in that language. B.S.E. candidates should include one test in either physics or chemistry and one test in either Level 1 or Level 2 mathematics. SAT ( or ACT, with Writing where offered ( TOEFL For international applicants only

3 Set After you have taken the required standardized tests and completed many of the recommended courses, the next step is to prepare your application. This is your opportunity to tell us about your accomplishments and show us what is special about you. Tell us in your own voice how you would take advantage of the academic and nonacademic opportunities at Princeton and how you would contribute to the community. Below is an overview of the application components. APPLICATION You may apply to Princeton either through the Common Application or the Universal College Application. You may apply online at for the Common Application or /princeton for the Universal College Application. Each also has a required writing supplement. A nonrefundable $65 application fee is required to cover part of the application processing costs. You may pay the fee with a credit card. If the fee causes extreme financial hardship, we will consider a written waiver request submitted by your guidance counselor. The waiver should include a brief explanation for the request. Alternatively, you may submit the waiver form available from the College Board and the National Association for College Admission Counseling. OPTIONAL ITEMS In addition to the Common Application or the Universal College Application and their writing supplements, if you have special talents in the arts, you may submit a sample of your work through the Princeton Optional Arts Form available on Princeton s admission website. If you have completed scientific research that you would like to share, you may upload an abstract of the research to the Princeton writing supplement. An interview, which is conducted by a Princeton alumnus or alumna, is optional. Please consult the Admission FAQ section of our website for more information about optional items to support your application. SCORE CHOICE You are welcome to use the Score Choice option when submitting the results of your SAT or ACT, and two different SAT Subject Tests. We will consider the highest individual section results across all sittings of the SAT and the highest composite score for the ACT with Writing, as well as the two highest SAT Subject Test scores. We encourage you to submit official test scores as soon as they are available. NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH If English is not your native language and you are attending a school where English is not the language of instruction, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL score must be reported by the testing agency to Princeton, in addition to the scores of the SAT or ACT, and two SAT Subject Tests. Students who have attended an English-medium secondary school for at least three years are not required to submit TOEFL results. TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service at test centers around the world. You may register by going to SCHOOL REPORTS You must submit the following Common Application or Universal College Application school reports, which are available from their respective websites. School Report (SR) and Transcript. Please ask your school counselor or other school official to complete and submit the SR form along with an official transcript and letter of reference. Two Teacher Evaluations. Please ask two of your teachers to complete and send us the Teacher Evaluation forms. You should choose teachers from two different areas of study. Midyear Report. Please ask your high school counselor or other school official to complete and submit this form. YOUR ESSAYS Your application to Princeton will include two essays, or three if you are thinking of pursuing an engineering degree. Both the Common Application and the Universal College Application require an essay of no more than 650 words. In addition, Princeton s writing supplement to the Common Application and Princeton s Supplement to the Universal College Application require you to write another essay, about 500 words, based on one of the five provided themes. The supplement should not repeat, in full or in part, the essay you write for either the Common Application or the Universal College Application. If you are interested in pursuing a B.S.E. degree, we require you to write a third essay explaining why you wish to study engineering. This essay should describe your experiences in or exposure to engineering, and how you think the engineering programs at Princeton will suit your particular interests. We hope you will take full advantage of these writing opportunities to help us discover who you are. A compelling essay completes and complements the other pieces of your application and provides us with a clear sense of your values and perspective on the world. The essays are an important component of your application, so please be sure to give them the effort necessary to produce your very best work, including taking extra care to ensure correct grammar and spelling. Remember that your essay must be your own work and written in your own voice. For more information about applying to Princeton, go to or scan this QR code with your smartphone.

4 Go FINANCIAL AID Princeton s Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid administers federal, state and University funds. Our aid program is designed to encourage economic diversity and to encourage all qualified students regardless of financial circumstances to consider applying for admission to Princeton. There is no income cutoff on our aid application; all families who feel they may need financial assistance are welcome to apply. Detailed information about the financial aid program can be found at /admission/financialaid. The Princeton Financial Aid Application (PFAA) is available online beginning Oct. 1 and can be used by both U.S. and international applicants. To complete the PFAA online, go to /apply_financial_aid and register for a login account. Please note that Princeton does not require the CSS PROFILE form. Additional Documents Parents most recent federal income tax returns and W-2 statements (or the equivalent for nonfilers) are required. We suggest you fax these documents directly to the financial aid office at by March 15. Non-custodial parents also may be required to complete a separate application. A more detailed explanation can be found in the Financial Aid Information and Application Instructions brochure, which is available as a PDF on our website. We recommend you file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15 to confirm your eligibility. More information can be found at Financial Aid Estimator Each family s financial circumstances are unique, and awards for admitted students are determined on an individual basis. Use our online financial estimator tool at to help calculate how your family might benefit from Princeton s financial aid program. The estimator is valid for U.S. and Canadian families only. You are ready to apply when you have: Filled out your application Assembled the supporting materials Completed your standardized testing Prepared your financial aid application if applicable If you are applying under single-choice early action, your application must be submitted electronically by Nov. 1. For regular decision, the application deadline is Jan. 1. If you are applying for financial assistance, you may submit your Princeton Financial Aid Application by Nov. 15 for early action and Feb. 1 for regular decision. FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION DEADLINES* Princeton Financial Aid Application (PFAA) Available online starting Oct. 1 Princeton Non-custodial Parent s Form If applicable, available online starting Oct. 1 FAFSA Available online starting Jan. 1 Single-Choice Early Action Regular Decision Nov. 15 Feb. 1 Nov. 15 Feb. 1 April 15 April 15 * Princeton does not require the CSS PROFILE form and will not accept it unless combined with the PFAA. In addition, tax forms and other supplemental information must be sent directly to Princeton, not to the CSS IDOC service.

5 Checklist Please use the checklist below to review the items you will need to complete your application. A list of frequently asked questions regarding the application process is available online at You may also contact us by mail at Office of Admission, Box 430, Princeton, N.J ; by phone at ; or by at uaoffice@princeton.edu. DATE SUBMITTED DEADLINES REQUIRED COMPONENTS Single-Choice Early Action Regular Decision Common Application or Universal College Application, including Princeton s writing supplement Nov. 1 Application Fee (or waiver request) Nov. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1; Dec. 15 if possible School Report and Transcript Nov. 1 Jan. 1 Teacher Evaluation Form 1 Nov. 1 Jan. 1 Teacher Evaluation Form 2 Nov. 1 Jan. 1 SAT or ACT SAT Subject Tests (Two Subject Tests required) Nov. 1 is strongly recommended. If tests are taken in November, please send scores directly to Princeton.* Nov. 1 is strongly recommended. If tests are taken in November, please send scores directly to Princeton.* Jan. 1 is strongly recommended (or by the December test date for those residing outside the United States). If test is taken in January, please send scores directly to Princeton.* Jan. 1 is strongly recommended (or by the December test date for those residing outside the United States). If tests are taken in January, please send scores directly to Princeton.* Midyear Report Feb. 1 for those candidates who are deferred or admitted. OPTIONAL ITEMS Single-Choice Early Action Regular Decision Princeton Optional Arts Form; abstract of scientific research Nov. 1; Oct. 15 if possible Interview n/a n/a Feb. 1 Jan. 1; Dec. 15 if possible IF APPLICABLE Single-Choice Early Action Regular Decision TOEFL Nov. 1 Jan. 1 Princeton Financial Aid Application (PFAA) Nov. 15 Feb. 1 Princeton Non-custodial Parent Form Nov. 15 Feb. 1 FAFSA April 15 for those students who are admitted. April 15 for those students who are admitted. * All scores should be sent directly to Princeton through the testing agency. Princeton s College Board number is 2672; the ACT number is 2588.

6 In the Nation s Service and in the Service of All Nations Nondiscrimination Statement In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other federal, state, and local laws, Princeton University does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, or veteran status in any phase of its employment process, in any phase of its admission or financial aid programs, or other aspects of its educational programs or activities. The vice provost for institutional equity and diversity is the individual designated by the University to coordinate its efforts to comply with Title IX, Section 504 and other equal opportunity and affirmative action regulations and laws. Questions or concerns regarding Title IX, Section 504 or other aspects of Princeton s equal opportunity or affirmative action programs should be directed to the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity, Princeton University, 205 Nassau Hall, Princeton, N.J or Copyright 2014 by The Trustees of Princeton University Photography by Brian Wilson, Princeton University Printed on recycled paper Office of Admission Box 430 Princeton, N.J uaoffice@princeton.edu